After Hayward, its Eksteen who has Indians tottering

After Hayward, its Eksteen who has Indians tottering
JAIDEEP MARAR

MUMBAI, FEB 21: The Board President's XI batsmen came up a cropper for the second time in as many days against the South Africans. On the concluding day of the three-dayer at the Brabourne Stadium, it required the experience of Nayan Mongia and last man Debashis Mohanty to deny the visitors a certain victory.

The ninth-wicket duo of Mongia, battling a finger injury, and Mohanty hung on grimly for 12.1 overs despite a few close calls to force an honourable draw on Monday.

Earlier, the South Africans used the opening session of the day to gain valuable batting practice. Resuming at the overnight score of 93-3, they added 114 runs before skipper Hansie Cronje declared the innings. Cronje (55) and Peiter Strydom (63 not out) fully availed of the opportunity to inject some confidence into their batting.

With Mohammed Azharuddin ruled out of this match and the first Test owing to a thumb injury sustained on Sunday, the President's XI were in a spot even before they began their second essay. If it wasMornantau Hayward who tormented the Indians on Sunday, their reputation further crumbled to left-arm spinner Clive Eksteen, who returned a morale-boosting five-wicket haul.

Opener Wasim Jaffer and Mohammed Kaif, the latest entrants to the Indian Test squad, flourished for a brief while. But the manner of their dismissals left a lot to be desired. Jaffer, who lived a chanced life, being let off by Mark Boucher and Allan Donald, was guilty of trying an extravagant sweep shot only to lose his leg-stump.

Kaif was the first to depart after stringing 63 runs with Jaffer when he stepped out to hoist Eksteen and was bowled.

Once the Kaif-Jaffer association was broken, the President's XI were in deep trouble, losing the next four wickets for the addition of 43 runs. The South Africa skipper used Hayward to psyche the senior batsmen and was successful in his ploy. The moment Ajay Jadeja came in, Cronje brought back Hayward and the latter managed to get the wicket for the second time. On the next delivery, thebowler rapped Mongia on the gloves with the batsman trying to fend a rising delivery. The Indian wicket-keeper returned to the dressing room with a bruised index finger and returned only when desperate measures were required.

Harbhajan Singh enlivened the proceedings, cracking 39 runs off 46 balls which included two sixes off Eksteen. Harbhajan emerged highest scorer (77 runs) for his side in the match.

Scoreboard

South Africa (1st innings): 293-6 declared
Board President's XI (1st innings): 172

South Africa (2nd innings; overnight 93-3): G Kirsten lbw Mohanty 4 (12b, 10m, 1x4)
Herschelle Gibbs lbw Singh 28 (66b, 96m, 3x4)
Jacques Kallis b Singh 12 (20b, 46m, 1x4)
Daryll Cullinan retired hurt 2 (11b, 20m)
Hansie Cronje lbw Mohanty 55 (100bs, 113m, 8x4)
Peiter Strydom not out 63 (114b, 167m, 5x4, 1x6)
Lance Klusener c Kaif b Bhandari 12 (28b, 41m, 2x4)
Mark Boucher not out 7 (21b, 29m, 1x4)
Extras: (8b, 12lb, 4nb) 24
Total: (for five wicketsdeclared off 63 overs; 264 mins) 207
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-30, 3-59, 4-147, 5-171

Bowling: Mohanty 12-3-30-2, Kumaran 12-1-27-0, Harbhajan Singh 16-2-59-2, Bhandari 14-6-37-1, Kartik 6-1-27-0, Kaif 2-1-2-0, Jadeja 1-0-5-0

Board President's XI (2nd innings): J Arun Kumar c Klusener b Donald 2 (11b, 18m) Wasim Jaffer b Eksteen 47 (106b, 149m, 7x4)
Mohammed Kaif b Eksteen 33 (70b, 91m, 4x4)
Ajay Jadeja c Boucher b Hayward 3 (7b, 6m)
Nayan Mongia not out 9 (33b, 39m, 1x4)
Murali Kartik c Boucher b Strydom 9 (19b, 22m, 2x4)
Thiru Kumaran lbw Eksteen 7 (27b, 24m)
Harbhajan Singh lbw Eksteen 39 (46b, 61m, 5x4, 2x6)
Debashis Mohanty not out 9 (70b, 81m, 1x4)
Amit Bhandari c sub (Boje) b Eksteen 6 (3b, 3m, 1x6)
Extras: (11b, 4lb, 2nb) 17
Total: (for eight wickets in 65 overs, 251 minutes) 181
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-75, 3-78, 4-102, 5-102, 6-121, 7-161, 8-169

Bowling: Hayward 11-1-45-1 (1nb), Donald 5-2-6-1, Eksteen 28-8-79-5, Kallis5-3-4-0, Strydon 14-4-30-1 (1nb), Cronje 2-0-2-0

Result: Match Drawn